One moment you're sitting atop a snow-capped mountain, the next you're photographing breaching humpback whales or swimming with penguins... What one of South America's smallest countries lacks in size it certainly makes up for in variety. Travellers to Quito and the Galapagos Islands can admire colonial-era buildings in Quito, hike along volcanoes in Cotopaxi Park or visit the otherworldly Galapagos islands. Footprint focusQuito & Galapagos Islands offers vital advice on how to navigate your way round these fascinating destinations as well as providing all the necessary information on where to eat, sleep, drink and party Essentials section with useful advice on getting there and around. Highlights map of Quito so you know what not to miss. Comprehensive, up-to-date listings of where to eat, sleep and have fun. Detailed street maps for Quito and advice on choosing a tour for the Galapagos Islands. Slim enough to fit in your pocket. Loaded with advice and information, this concise Footprint focusguide will help you get the most out of Quito and the Galapagos Islands without weighing you down. The content of Footprint focusQuito & Galapagos Islands guide has been extracted from Footprint's Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador Handbook and Footprint's South American Handbook.

Daisy Isacovici was born and raised in Ecuador (Quito and Riobamba). Robert Kunstaetter hails from Montreal, where Daisy attended university. Soon after they met in 1979, he suggested travelling in South America for ‘a year or so’, and they have yet to turn back. Over the years and miles, Robert and Daisy became regular correspondents for Footprint, contributing to the South American Handbook and other Latin American titles. Based back in Ecuador since 1993, they are authors of Footprint’s Ecuador & Galápagos and Trekking in Ecuador. They also travel frequently to Peru and Bolivia.

1) Quito; (2) Northern Ecuador – Quito to Otavalo, Otavalo and around; Cotopaxi, Latacunga and Quilotoa – Cotapaxi and Latacunga, Quilotoa Circuit; Galápagos Islands.